After a quiet get-together became a drunken jam fest, this unlikely musical trio (Miller, bbarry, and John Underwood) would go on to record 2 hours of hilarious music that would soon spawn a cult following. As their popularity increased and their creativity surged, the band added drummer Mike Underwood, compiled a group of songs, and headed into the infamous east coast recording giant, Big Blue Meenie Recording Studios. There they teamed up with (teased and tortured) legendary producer/engineer Tim "Rumblefish" Gilles (Thursday, S.O.D., Taking Back Sunday) who, after years with the band lovingly stated, “The Jewels were the only band who broke me.”
In 1994, the band released its first single, Happy as a Fly, which was played on major and college radio stations around the US and received rave reviews by underground music magazines worldwide. They later signed with NYC area label Black Pumpkin Records, recorded additional work with Gilles and released their debut full-length recording, The Family Jewels in 1996.
Later that year and into 1998, The Family Jewels self-financed a tour of the United States in support of their debut album and their second effort, "Chuck and Louise.” Produced by guitarist John Underwood and local punk legend Joe Darone (The Fiendz, Suit of Lights, The Rosenbergs), the record would be the band's boldest musical statement to date. Unfortunately, due to a shift toward harder-edged artists on the part of the label, all support for the release was nixed. The band left the label later that year. Despite the setback, the band continued to tour and self-financed two additional tours of the US—opening for acts such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Huffamoose, Johnny Cohen, San Francisco funk group Tang, and King Norris of Howard Stern fame.
In 1999, The Family Jewels reunited with Tim Gilles to record the tracks, “Push it through the Middle,” “Gigolo,” and "Higher Than The Government", which received college radio airplay and reignited interest in the band by majors. Despite an upswing in popularity, the band parted ways in 2002 due to personal, financial, and creative conflicts.
